Method and apparatus for manipulating rod shaped articles



6- MEINECKE Nov. 22, 1966 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANIPULATING ROD SHAPED ARTICLES Filed Dec. 51, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 My fi m WW 7. MA m n G. MEINECKE Nov. 22, 1966 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANIPULATING ROD SHAPED ARTICLES 4 Sheets5heet 5 Filed Dec. 31. 1963 By 72am! H9711 G. MElNECKE Nov. 22, 1966 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANIPULATING ROD SHAPED ARTICLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Filed Dec. 31, 1965 I .7nvenfor 62565746 0 MV/VfKKf United States Patent 3,286,809 METHOD ANT) APPARATUS FOR MANIPULATING ROD SHAPED ARTICLES Gerhard Meinecke, Hamburg-Wilhelmsburg, Germany,

assignor to Hauni-Werlre Korber and Co. KG, Hamhurg-Bergedorf, Germany Filed Dec. 31, 1963, Ser. No. 334,849 18 Claims. (Cl. 19832) The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for manipulating rod shaped articles, such as sections of filter rods and the like. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for arranging in a single file rod shaped sections which are obtained by consecutively severing rods of multiple unit length.

In the manufacture of filter cigarettes, filter sections of double unit length are fed between pairs of coaxial cigarette rods, and such filter sections are then attached to the adjacent ends of cigarette rods by adhesive-coated wrappers which are subsequently severed across the filter sections to yield two filter cigarettes of utlimate length. Filter sections of double unit length are obtained by severing rods of filter mouthpiece material and by thereupon shuflling the sections to form a single file whose elements are fed consecutively between pairs of cigarette rods. The presently utilized methods and apparatus for shuifiing such filter sections do not meet all requirements in a modern filter cigarette machine because they are in part too complicated, too costly and too bulky, or because they cannot shufile the filter sections at the speed .at which a mass-producing cigarette machine delivers cigarette rods.

Accordingly, it is an important object of my invention to provide a novel method of manipulating filter sections and similar rod shaped articles in such a way that the sections may be shuffled and shifted in a small area, at great speed, and with utmost accuracy to make sure that the number of defective filter cigarettes is reduced to a minimum.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method according to which at least some sections, obtained by severing consecutive rods into rows of coaxial sections, are conveyed in such a way that they undergo minimal deformation or no deformation at all whereby the ultimate product will be one of high quality both as regards in shape and consistency.

A further object of the inventionis to provide an apparatus for the practice of my method and to construct the apparatus in such a way that the sections of consecutive rods may be manipulated with utmost precision, at very high speed, and that at least one section of each rod need not be shifted with respect to its conveyor while it advances to the point of discharge from the apparatus.

A concomitant object of my invention is'to provide improved shufiling means which may be used in an apparatus of the above outlined characteristics.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for manipulating filter sections and similar rod shaped articles which may be utilized in connection with rods of different length and which requires no attention once it is started because the shufiling operation is carried out in a fully automatic way.

Another object of my invention is to provide an apparatus which is particularly suited for manipulating filter sections and which may be installed in many types of presently utilized filter cigarette machines.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the just outlines characteristics wherein each and every filter section is guided and held against unintentional displacement all the way from the point where the sections are formed and to the point where the sections which form a single file are delivered into the gaps between consecutive pairs of aligned cigarette rods.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the above outlined characteristics which is especially suited for handling of filter rods and filter sec-. tions of commercially available length so that it may be built into existing filter cigarette machines without necessitating any, or by necessitating minimal, alterations in the construction an operation of such machines.

With the above objects in view, one feature of my invention resides in the provision of a method of manipulating filter sections and similar rod shaped articles which are obtained by severing each of a series of consecutive rods of multiple unit length to form rows of coaxial sections. The method comprises the steps of advancing the rows on a conveyor at a predetermined speed, preferably at constant speed, in a direction transversely to the longitudinal extensions thereof and at such a distance from each other that the spacing between consecutive rows exceeds at least slightly the combined length of the diam eters of all but one section in any given row, changing the speed of all but one section in each consecutive row until the sections of each row are staggered transversely with reference to each other whereby some or all sections may be moved faster or slower than such one section, and shifting all but a single section of each row substantially axially and toward such single section so that all sections of each consecutive row form a single file. Preferably, .but not necessarily, the last step comprises shifting all but the one section which advances at the predetermined speed so that one section of each row need not change its speed if the predetermined speed is a constant speed. Also, that section of each row which advances at such predetermined speed preferably forms a single file with the corresponding sections of the other rows so that the sections of all rows ultimately form a single file.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved apparatus itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional features and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 7

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic front elevational view of a filter cigarette machine comprising an apparatus which embodies one form of my invention and wherein the sections are held by mechanical means; i

FIG. 2 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a smaller-scale fragmentary axial section through the apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a second apparatus wherein the sections are held by suction;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a third apparatus which constitutes a slight modification of the apparatus shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 illustrates in perspective view portions of the movable and fixed shuffiing and rolling elements which may be used in the apparatus of FIG. 4 or 5; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a fourth apparatus which constitutes a modification of the appaknives 4, S disposed in planes which are spaced from each other in the axial direction of the conveyor 3 so that each filter rod yields a row consisting of three coaxial filter rod sections F, Fa, Fb of double unit length. The exact construction of the, conveyor 3 will be described in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3, and it sufiices to say here that the conveyor 3 cooperates with means which manipulate consecutive rows of sections F-Fb in such a way that the sections form a single file and are consecutively inserted into gaps between consecutive pairs of single-length cigarette rods C which are accommodated in the holder means of an assembly conveyor 7. This assembly conveyor receives cigarette rods C from the holder means of a feed conveyor 6, and the conveyor 6 in turn receives such cigarette rods from a continuous r-od cigarette making machine, not shown. Each pair of cigarette rods C forms with the respective filter rods section F, Fa or Fb a group G of coaxial rod-shaped articles and such groups are thereupon transferred into the holder means of a wrapping conveyor 11 which cooperates with a cutting conveyor 10 to apply an adhesive-coated wrapper to the section F, Fa or Fb of each consecutive group. The wrappers are severed from a continuous tape or web of cigarette paper which is uncoiled from a reel 8 and one side of which passes along an adhesive-applying roller 18a dip-ping into a suitable adhesive contained in a tank 18. The cutting conveyor 10 cooperates with a rotary knife 9 which severs the tape into wrappers of requisite length. The groups G, each having a wrapper applied to its section F, Fa or Fb in such a way that the wrapper overlies the inner end portions of the respective cigarette rods C, are then delivered into the holder means of a combined rolling and drying conveyor 12 whereon the wrappers are rolled about the respective filter sections to connect such filter sections with the respective cigarette rods and to form filter cigarettes H of double unit length. Such cigarettes H are then transferred into the holder means of a testing conveyor 13 which ejects defective cigarettes and which delivers satisfactory cigarettes into the holder means of a second cutting conveyor 14. The conveyor 14 cooperates with a rotary knife 15 to sever each cigarette H midway across the respective filter section F, Fa or Fb so that each such cigarette yields two coaxial filter cigarettes Z of ultimate length. The cigarettes Z are transferred into the holder means of an inverting convey-or 16 which comprises means for inverting one cigarette Z of each pair so that the cigarettes then form a single file which is delivered onto the upper stringer of a take-off conveyor 17 to be advanced to a stacking station, not shown. In the illustrated embodiment, each conveyor is a rotary drum whose iholder means consist of axially parallel peripheral pockets as is well known in the art of filter cigarette machines. While advancing from the magazine 1 forward and along the take-off conveyor 17, the rod-shaped articles S, F, Fa, Fb, C, G, H and Z mainly advance in a direction transversely to their axes excepting, of course, where specifically mentioned, for example, during shifting of filter sections F, Fa, Fb on the conveyor 3 (when the :filter sections Fa, Fb move axially in order to form with the sections F a single file of filter sections), during assembling on the conveyor 7 (when it might become necessary to move the cigarette rods C axially in order to bring them into abutment with the ends of the respective filter rod sections), and during inverting on the conveyor 16 when one of each pair of filter cigarettes Z is turned through 180 degrees in order to have the filter mouthpiece at the same end as the noninverted filter cigarettes.

Excepting for the apparatus including the convey-or 3 and the knives 4, the filter cigarette machine of FIG. 1 is known in the art and its construction and mode of operation were described in an effort to facilitate understanding of the novel method which comprises the steps of severing consecutive filter rods S to form rows of filter sections F, Fa, Pb and of thereupon shuffling and shifting the filter sections of each row in a novel way so that they form a single file whose elements may be delivered into the pockets of the assembly drum 7.

A portion of the apparatus including the conveyor 3 and knives 4, 5 is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The conveyor 3 is a drum which comprises a central portion 19, hereinafter called median disk, whose peripheral surface is provide-d wit-h equidistant axially parallel holder means in the form of pockets 20. The axial length of the me dian disk 19 equals or exceeds slightly the axial length of a filter section F. The drum 3 is provided with two circumferential grooves 21, 22 located at the axial ends of the median disk 19 and serving to receive portions of the knives 4, 5 so that, when a selected pocket 20 accommodates a filter rod S of sextuple unit length and the filter rod is conveyed past the knives 4, 5, it yields a row consisting of three coaxial filter sections F, Fa, Fb of double unit length. A further circumferential groove 23 is provided in the peripheral surface of the median disk 19 midway between the grooves 21, 22, and its purpose is to receive a stripping finger, not shown, which facilitates transfer of filter sections F, Pa and Pb into the holder means of the assembly conveyor 7. Such transfer takes place after the filter sections Fa, Fb of consecutive rows are shuflled with the respective filter sections F in such a way that they form a single file of filter sections which move in a direction transverse to their axes and are accommodated exclusively in the pockets 20 of the median disk 19.

The drum 3 carries two sets or groups of forked shufiling members 24, 25 which are mounted in such a way that the spaces between their prong-like stops 26, 27 may move into registry with a pocket 20 which receives a fresh filter rod S from the transfer conveyor 2. The shuffling members 24, 25 then remain in such positions with reference to the median disk 19 until after the respective filter rod S is severed to yield a row consisting of three sections F, Fa, Fb whereby the median section F rests in the pocket 20 of the disk 19, the first outer section Fa rests in the space defined by the stops 26, 27 of a shufiling member 24, and the second outer section Fb rests in the space defined by the stops 26, 27 of a shufiling member 25. Each shufiling member is movable to a limited extent in the circumferential direction of the disk 19, see the arrows A and B, and such mounting enables these shuffling members to change the speed of and to thereby move the respective filter sections Fa, Fb out of axial alignment with the median filter section F so that each outer filter section may be moved into registry with an empty pocket 20. It will be noted that the transfer conveyor 2 delivers filter rods S into selected pockets 20, i.e., into each third pocket, so that two empty pockets 20 divide each pair of consecutive filter rods and such empty pockets may receive two outer filter sections Fa, Fb. If the number of sections in a row is n, the number of empty pockets is n1, and the distance between two consecutive rods S on the conveyor 3 exceeds at least slightly the combined length of the two (n-l) rod diameters.

The stops 26, 27 of the shuffling members 24, 25 are respectively adjacent to the peripheral surfaces of two outer disks 19a, 19b which are separated from the median disk 19 by the aforementioned grooves 21, 22. Thus, a filter section Fa which is received in the space between the stops 26, 27 of a shufiling member 24 rests on the peripheral surface of the outer disk 19a and may actually roll along this surface when the shuflling member 24 is caused to move with reference to the disk 19a (arrow A). In the same way, a filter section Fb which is received in the space between the stops 26, 27 of a shufiling member 25 rests on and may roll along the peripheral surface of the outer disk 1% when the shufiling member 25 is caused to move in the direction of the arrow B. The shuffling members 24, 25 comprise bell crank levers 28 which are rockable about pivots 29 secured to the drum 3 and adjacent to the outer end faces of the disks 19a, 19b. The stops 26, 27 are mounted on the outer arms of the respective bell crank levers 28, and the inner arm of each lever 28 carries a follower roller 30 which is received in the cam groove of a fixed face cam 31. As shown in FIG. 3, the drum 3 comprises two such face cams 31 each of which is outwardly adjacent to one of the outer disks 19a, 19b. The configuration of the cam grooves is such that the bell crank levers 28 will be rocked in certain angular positions of the disks 19, 19a, 19b whereby the shuffling members 24, 25 may shuffie the outer filter sections Fa, Fb with reference to the median filter sections F in order to align each outer filter section with an empty pocket 20. The disks 19, 19a, 1% are respectively surrounded by arcuate shields 33, 34, 32 which constitute mechanical holding means to insure that the filter rods S and the rows of filter sections F-Fb remain in the respective pockets or spaces not only during severing of filter rods but also during shuffling and shifting of filter sections and during further advance of a single file of such filter sections toward the transfer station at which the filter sections are delivered consecutively into the holder means of the assembly drum 7. Alternatively, and as will be described in connection with FIG. 4, the shields 32-34 may be replaced by different holding means including suction ducts provided in the disks 19, 19a, 19b to hold the filter rods and filter sections while such articles advance along a certain portion of the circular path defined by the drum 3.

Once the outer filter sections Fa, Fb are shuffled and register with empty pockets 20, they are shifted axially toward and into such empty pockets so that all of the filter sections are carried by the median disk 19 not later than at the time they reach the periphery of the assembly conveyor 7. The means for shifting the outer filter sections Fa, Fb axially into the pockets 20, i.e., toward the respective filter sections F comprises a pair of arcuate shifting members 35 (one shown in FIG. 2) which are adjacent to the outer ends of the outer filter sections Fa, Fb and whose inner end faces 35a converge in a direction toward the central groove 23 so that they gradually shift the outer filter sections axially and onto the median disk 19. The shifing members 35 are positioned in such a way that they engage the outer halves of the outer end faces on the respective filter sections Fa, Fb (as seen in the radial direction of the drum 3) because such outer halves project outwardly and beyond the stops 26, 27, see FIG. 2. Thus, the stops of the shuffling members 24, 25 may pass beneath the shifting members 35 so that they may participate in'angular movement of the drum 3. When the bell crank levers 28 are caused to rock with reference to the outer disks 19a, 19b, the stops of the respective shufiling members move in an arc toward or away from the peripheral surfaces of the .outer disks, but such movement (radially of the outer disks) is negligible so that the outer filter'sections Fa, Fb remain in the respective spaces even though the stops move toward or away from the peripheral surfaces of the respective outer disks. The pockets 20 are rather closely adjacent to each other so that the bell crank levers 28 must be rocked through a small angle in order to shuffle the filter sections Fa, Fb and to move them into registry with two empty pockets 20 atthe opposite sides of a filled pocket 20. It will be noted that, during such shuffling, the shuffling members 24 move in the same direction as and the shuffling members 25 move in a direction counter to the direction of rotation of the drum 3. In other words, and since the drum 3 is preferably driven at constant speed, the filter sections Fa are accelerated but the speed of filter sections Fb is reduced when these sections are shufiled with reference to the median section's F.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the drum 3 comprises a hub 3a which is rotatable in needle bearings provided on a fixed spindle 3b which latter carries one of the face cams 31. The other face cam 31 is secured to a bracket 3c which is mounted on a frame member 3d, and this frame member 3d carries the spindle 3b. The hub 3a is connected with a driver gear 3e which is rotated by the main drive of the filter cigarette machine, not shown, in such a way that the operation of the drum 3 is synchronized with the operation of the conveyors 2 and 7. The main drive also operates the knives 4, 5 which are driven at high speed.

The apparatus including the drum 3, knives 4, 5, shuffiing means 24, 25, 31 and shifting means 35, operates as follows:

When the transfer conveyor 2 delivers a filter rod S into a selected pocket 20 of the median disk 19, a pair of shuffling members 24, 25 registers with the respective pocket 20 in such a way that the spaces defined by their stops 36, 27 receive the outer end portions of the filter rod. Thus, and as the filter rod advances past the knives 4, 5, it is automatically severed to yield a row consisting of three coaxial filter sections including a median filter section F which is accommodated in the pocket 20, a first outer filter section Fa which is accommodated in the space between the stops 26, 27 of the shufiling member 24, and a second outer filter section Fb which is accommodated in the space defined by the stops 26, 27 of the shuffling member 25. Since each filter rod S yields three filter sections, the number of pockets 20 in the median disk 19 equals three times the number of shuffling members 24 or 25.

Once the row of filter sections F-Fb advances beyond the knife 5, the shufliing members 24, 25 begin to move in directions indicated by the arrows A, B whereby the filter section Fa moves ahead of the filter section F and the filter section Fb begins to lag behind the filter section F. The movements of the shufiling members 24, 25 with reference to the outer disks 19a, 19b are gradual and are caused by the respective bell crank levers 28 which in turn are rocked by the earns 31. The shufiling members 24, 25 cease to move with reference to the outer disks when the filter section Fa is in registry with that empty pocket 20 which is located immediately ahead of the filter section F and when the filter section Fb is in registry with that empty pocket 20 which is located immediately behind the filter section F. The shuflling members 24, 25 then remain in such positions (with reference to the outer disks 19a, 1%) until after they pass the transfer station at which the filter sections F-Fb are delivered into the holder means of the conveyor 7 or at least until the shifting members 35 have compelled the filter sections Fa, Fb to move axially into the respective empty pockets 20. As the drum 3 continues to rotate, the shuffling members 24, 25 respectively move in directions counter to those indicated by the arrows A, B so that they return into alignment with the pocket 20 which has accommodated the filter section F, and such return movement of the shuffling members 24, 25 is completed before the respective pocket 20 receives a fresh filter rod S. The operation is then repeated in the same way. Of course, and since the number of shuflling members 24, 25 equals onethird of the number of pockets 20, the drum 3 will shufiie a large number of filter sections in a continuous operation so that each pocket 20 which approaches the conveyor 7 accommodates a filter section F, Fa or Fb in the following sequence: F, Fb, Fa, F, Fb, Fa The shields 32- 34- prevent ejection of filter sections by centrifugal force or by gravity and, once the filter sections form a single file, only the shield 33 remains effective because it surrounds the median disk 19 and extends all the way to the transfer station between the drum 3 and conveyor 7. At this transfer station, a stripping finger extends into the groove 23 and compels each filter section to leave the respective pocket 20 so that all of the pockets 20 :are empty while advancing from the conveyor 7 back to the transfer station between the drum 3 and conveyor 2.

It goes without saying that the apparatus including the drum 3 and knives 4, 5 may be modified if the chute 1a delivers filter rods S of quadruple unit length. In such apparatus, the knife 4 or '5, the shufiling members 24 or 25, the shield 32 or 34, one of the shifting members 35 and one of the cams 31 may be dispensed with.

FIG. 4 illustrates a modified apparatus including a drum '3A which is practically identical with the drum 3. The main difference between the embodiments of FIGS. 2-3 and 4 is that the apparatus of FIG. 4 comprises different shuffling means, i.e., the shufiling means including the shuffling members 24, 25 and the cams 31 is replaced by a shufiling means which includes specially configurated holder means 36, 41, hereinafter called receptacles, respectively secured to or integral with the peripheries of the outer disks 19b, 19a, and rolling means 51 arranged to cooperate with the receptacles 41, 36 in order to move the filter sections Fa, Fb with reference to the disks 19a, 19b. The median disk 19 of the drum 3A is provided with axially parallel pockets 20 whose number is three times the number of receptacles 36 or 41. Selected pockets 20 will receive filter rods S (each third pocket 20 will receive a filter rod from the transfer conveyor 2) and the remaining pockets will receive filter sections Fa, Fb from the receptacles 41, 36. The length of each receptacle 36 exceeds substantially the width of a pocket 20 (as seen in the circumferential direction of the drum 3A), i.e., the length of each receptacle 36 equals the width of two pockets 20 plus the distance between a pair of adjacent pockets 20. In other words, if a filter section Fb is located at one end of the receptacle 36, it is aligned with one of the pockets 20, and the same filter section Fb is aligned with another pocket 20 when it is caused to move to the other end of the respective receptacle 36. The length of the receptacles 41 is even greater, Le, a filter section Fa located at one end of a receptacle 41 is aligned with a first pocket 20 and the same filter section is aligned with a third pocket 20 if it is caused to move to the other end of the same receptacle 41.

Each receptacle 36 comprises at its ends two stops 37, 38 which arrest a filter section Pb in the corresponding end positions with reference to the receptacle so that the filter section P12 is aligned with a first (filled) pocket 20 when it abuts against the stop 37 but is aligned with a second (empty) pocket when it is caused to move against the stop 38. The receptacles 41 are provided with stops 39, 40 which are spaced in such a way that a filter section Fa abutting against the stop 40 registers with a first (filled) pocket 20 and that the same filter section Fa registers with a third (empty) pocket if it is caused to move against the stop 39. The shifting members 35 serve the same purpose as described in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3; thus, their inner end faces 35a will move the filter sections Fa, Fb axially and into aligned empty pockets 20 before such filter sections reach the holder means of the conveyor 7, not shown in FIG. 4.

The disks 19, 19a, 19b are provided with suction ducts 42 which terminate in the pockets 20, in each receptacle 36 adjacent to the stops 37, 38, and in each receptacle 41 adjacent to the stops 39, 40. Thus, the filter sections F and the filter rods S are held by suction at all times (namely, while advancing from the transfer station between the drum 3A and conveyor 2 to the transfer station between the drum 3A and conveyor 7), and the filter sections Fa, Fb are held by suction whenever they abut against one of the stops 37-40. The manner in which the suction ducts 42 may communicate with a suction chamber in the drum 3A is Well known in the art of cigarette machines and forms no part of this invention. All that counts is to provide the drum 3A with suitably distributed suction ducts which replace the mechanical holding means 3234 and which are capable of holding the filter rods S and filter sections F-Fb against the action of gravity or centrifugal force.

The knives 4, 5 are respectively driven by shafts 43, 44 (the latter is a hollow shaft), and these knives are associated with rotary retaining disks 45, 46 which are respectively provided with peripheral cutouts 47, 48 to grip the filter rods S and/ or the filter sections during severing. The disk 45 is driven by a hollow shaft 49 which surrounds the shaft 43, and the disk 46 is driven by a shaft 50 which is surrounded by the hollow shaft 44. The shafts 43, 44 drive the knives 4, 5 at high speed, but the shafts 49, 50 are driven at such a speed that the cutouts 47, 48 move into registry with consecutive filter rods S when the apparatus including the drum 3A and the knives 4, 5 is in actual use. These disks 45, 46 insure that the filter rods and their sections remain in the respective pockets or receptacles during severing of filter rods into sections FFb. The distance between the cutouts 47 or 48, as seen in the circumferential direction of the disk 45 or 46, equals the distance between such pockets 20 which receive consecutive rods S from the conveyor 2.

The rolling means 51 comprises a shaft 51a for two axially spaced rollers 52, 53 of identical diameters which are respectively adjacent to the peripheries of the disks 1%, 19a. These rollers are respectively provided with cutoifs 54, 56 so that there remains a peripheral portion 55 resp. 57 which may actually engage a filter section Fb resp. Fa. The circumferential length of the peripheral portion 55 on the roller 52 is degrees, and the circumferential length of the peripheral portion 57 is 240 degrees. The peripheral speed of the portions 55, 57 equals the peripheral speed of the disks 19-19b. It is further to be noted that the circumferential length of the peripheral portion 55 equals the length of a receptacle 36 (i.e., the distance between the stops 37, 38) and that the circumferential length of the portion 57 equals the length of a receptacle 41 (Le, the distance between the stops 39, 40)

The apparatus of FIG. 4 operates as follows:

The transfer conveyor 2 delivers filter rods S into selected pockets 20 so that each third pocket receives a filter rod. These filter rods then advance with the drum 3A and pass along the knives 4, 5 to be severed and to yield rows of filter sections FFb. The disks 45, 46 act not unlike gears and their cutouts 47, 48 receive portions of filter rods S during severing to insure that the filter sections Fa, Fb remain in abutment with the respective stops 40, 37. The disks 45, 46 are driven at the peripheral speed of the drum 3A but the knives 4, 5 (which are driven by rapidly rotating shafts 43, 44) rotate at a higher speed. During severing, a filter section Fb abuts against the stop 37 and the aligned filter section Fa abuts against the stop 40. These filter sections remain in abutment with the stops 37, 40 because they overlie suction ducts 42 which prevent them from changing their positions with reference to the receptacles 36, 41. Of course, the suction ducts 42 terminating in the pocket 20 which accommodates a filter section F will draw this section against the periphery of the median disk 19 so that the filter sections F-Fb of a given filter rod S remain in registry while advancing toward the rolling means 51. The peripheral portion 55 of the roller 52 then engages the filter section Pb and causes it to roll from the stop 37 toward and into abutment with the stop 38. At the same time, the peripheral portion 57 of the roller 53 engages the filter section Pa and rolls it along the receptacle 41 into abutment with the stop 39. During such rolling, each of the filter sections Fa, Fb rolls in a direction counter to the direction of movement of the median filter sections F whereby the filter section Fb comes to rest at the time it is aligned with the empty pocket 20 which is nearest to the filter section F but the filter section Fa rolls even further and comes into alignment with that empty pocket 20 which is separated from the filter section F by an empty pocket. The filter sections Fa, Fb then remain in such positions under the action of suction which is efiective through the ducts 42 and are subsequently shifted into the aligned empty pockets 20 while advancing along the slowly and gradually converging inner end faces 35a of the shifting members 35. Thus, the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 4 is clearly analogous to the operation of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 23 excepting that the outer filter sections Fa, Fb move in the same direction at the time they are caused to change their positions with reference to the respective receptacles.

The knife 4, together with the disk 19a, roller 53, receptacles 41 and one of the shifting members 35 may be dispensed with if the conveyor 2 delivers filter rods S of quadruple unit length.

FIG. illustrates a portion of another apparatus wherein the rolling means 51 of FIG. 4 is replaced by a stationary rolling member 58. Furthermore, and in order to insure that the outer filter sections (only the second outer filter section Fb is shown in FIG. 5) remain in proper alignment with the empty pockets 20, the drum 3B of FIG. 5 comprises a series of movable stops 73, 74 which are reciprocable radially to extend through and beyond slots provided in receptacles 59 which are fixed to the periphery of the outer disk 1%. The movable stops 73, 74 resemble fiat strips and are mounted on a lever 64 which is articulately secured to the disk 19b by a pivot 64a and is rockable by a mechanism including a cam 70 to be described in connection with FIG. 7. FIG- 5 shows a filter section Pb in abutment with the fixed stop 37 of the receptacle 59, and the other side of this filter section is simultaneously held by the movable stop 74 so that the section Fb rests in a pocket 75 and its axis is parallel with the axis of the drum 3B. At the time the filter section Fb has been severed from a filter rod, it is in abutment with the fixed stop 37 and is simultaneously held by the movable stop 74. The movable stops 73, 74 are retracted before the filter section Fb reaches the fixed rolling member 58 so that it is free to roll along the corrugated outer side of the receptacle 59 from the stop 37 toward and into abutment with the stop 38. Once the filter section Fb has moved past the rolling member 58, the lever 64 moves the stops 73, 74 outwardly so that the filter section Fb then rests in a pocket 76 between the stops 38, 73 and is ready to be shifted into an empty pocket 20 of the median disk 19. The receptacle 59 is provided with suction ducts 42 which are adjacent to the stops 37, 38 and which cooperate with the stops 37, 38, 73, 74 to hold the filter sections Pb in their end positions, i.e., either in the pocket 75 between the stops 37, 74 or in the pocket 76 between the stops 38, 73. The drum 3B rotates in a clockwise direction.

Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown a modified rolling means which replaces the rolling means 51 or 58. This rolling means comprises an accelerating roller 61 which causes a filter section Fb to roll away from the stop 37 but not all the way to the stop 38, and this roller 61 is located ahead of a fixed rolling member 60 which thereupon engages the revolving filter section Fb to move it all the way into abutment with the stop 38;, not shown in FIG. 6. The advantage of the rolling means 60, 61 is that the filter section Fb is less likely to be damaged or deformed because it engages the fixed rolling member 60 at a time when it is already in motion with reference to the receptacle 36. The rolling means of FIG. 6 may be used in the apparatus of FIG. 4, 5 or 7. The rotational speed of the roller 61 will determine the distance which the filter section Fb covers along the corrugated surface of the receptacle 36 before it comes in contact with the fixed rolling member 60.

Referring finally to FIG. 7, there is shown .a further apparatus whose drum 3D is substantially identical with the drum 3A or 3B. It comprises a median disk 19 with pockets 20, 20a, 20b, 21 first outer disk 19a with recep tacles 41 having suction ducts 42 and stops 39, 40 and a second outer disk 1% with receptacles 36' having suction ducts 42 and stops 37, 38. The median portion 62 of each receptacle 36' is reciprocable radially of the disk 1% so that its end face 62a replaces the movable stop 74 of FIG. 5 and that its other end face 62b replaces the movable stop 73 of FIG. 5. Similarly, the receptacle 41 comprises a median portion 63 which is reciprocable radially of the disk 19a and whose end faces 63a, 63b constitute two movable stops for the filter sections Pa. The median portions 62, 63 are respectively secured to levers 64, which are mounted on pivots 64a, 65a car ried by the disks 1%, 19a. These levers 64, 65 are further connected with cams 70, 71 which are biased by springs 72 (only one shown) mounted in disk-shaped outer walls 68, 69 of the drum 3D. Thus, the springs 72 normally tend to maintain the earns 70, 71 in their outer end positions so that the median portions 62, 63 extend radially outwardly and hold the filter sections Fb, Fa in one of their end positions. Stationary depressing rollers 66, 67 are positioned adjacent to the path of the cams 70, 71 and serve to depress these cams against the bias of the springs 72 at the time the respective filter sections Fb, Fa advance along the rolling members, not shown in FIG. 7. Such rolling members may be identical with those described in connection with FIG. 4, 5 or 6.

The apparatus of FIG. 7 operates as follows:

Each pocket 20 will receive a filter rod S at the time it advances along the transfer conveyor 2 (see FIG. 1), and such rods thereupon advance past the knives 4, 5 to be severed into rows each of which includes three filter sections F, Fa, Fb. At the time a pocket 20 receives a filter rod S and while the filter rod thereupon advances toward and past the knives 4, 5 the median portions 62, 63 of the receptacles 36', 41' are free to follow the bias of the springs 72 and move radially outwardly to hold the respective end portions of the filter rod S (and thereupon the filter sections Fb, Fa) in pockets 75, 77 respectively defined by the parts 37, 62 and 40, 63. The cam 71 is thereupon engaged by the depressing roller 67 just before the corresponding rolling member 53, 58 or 61 engages the filter section Fa and causes it to roll along the outer side of the retracted median portion 63 in a direction toward the pocket 78 at the inner side of the stop 39. The filter section Fa then advances beyond the rolling member and is received in the pocket 78 just before the roller 67 releases the cam 71 so that the median portion 63 again moves radially outwardly and prevents further displacement of the filter section Fa which latter is now aligned with the empty pocket 20a on the median disk 19.

Shortly after the roller 67 depresses the cam 71, the roller 66 engages and depresses the cam just before the filter section Fb reaches the corresponding rolling member 52, 58 or 61. The filter section Fb then rolls from the pocket 75 (which is adjacent to the stop 37), along the outer side of the retracted median portion 62, and into the pocket 76 at the inner side of the stop 38. The filter section Fb then advances beyond the rolling member and the roller 66 releases the cam 70 so that the spring 72 returns the median portion 62 to its outer end position in which this median portion prevents the filter section Fb from leaving the pocket 76, i.e., the filter section Fb is aligned with the empty pocket 20b on the periphery of the median disk 19. As the filter sections Fa, Fb continue to advance with the respective receptacles 41', 36', they come into the range of the shifting members 35 (not shown in FIG. 7) which move the filter sections axially and into the pockets 20a, 20b so that the filter sections F, Fa, Fb form a single file which is carried by the median disk 19 and is ready to be transferred into the holder means of the assembly conveyor 7.

A very import-ant advantage of my improved method and apparatus is "believed to reside in that the outer section or sections of each row of sections may be shuffled while the conveyor 3, 3A, 3B or 3D covers a short distance so that ample room remains for shifting of such outer sections into aligned empty pockets of the median disk 19.

1 1 This is of particular importancewhen the sections are shifted by mechanical means, such as the aforedesoribed shifting members 35, because such mechanical shifting means operate with greater accuracy if the sections are permitted to cover comparatively long distances during axial movement thereof. It should be borne in mind that the sections F-Fb are quite short and that they consist of lightweight material so that the resistance of surrounding air plays an important role during shifting of .outer sections into the pockets of the disk 19. In other words, it is desirable to construct the apparatus of my invention in such .a way that the shifting members 35 may be formed with end faces 35a whose inclination with reference to the groove 23 in the median disk 19 is gradual whereby the apparatus insures that each pocket of the median disk will receive a filter section before the drum reaches the transfer station at which the sections are fed into the holder means of the assembly conveyor 7.

The distance which the outer sections Fa, Fb must cover during shuffling is exceptionally short if the shuffling means move such outer sections in directions counter to the direction of movement of the drum, for example, in a manner as illustrated in FIG. 4, 5 or 7. Thus, in order to provide more room for axial shifting of outer sections, Fa, Fb, it is advisable to shuffle such outer sections by reducing their speed with reference to the median sections F.

If the shuffling step is carried out while the sections move in a downwardly inclined path, the shuffling means may comprise shufiling members which all-ow the outer sections to move by gravity, i.e., to travel along the outer disks 19a, 1% not because they are moved by forks, fixed rollers, fixed rolling plates, or combinations of fixed and rotary rolling means, but only under the action of gravity. It is equally possible to construct the shuffling means in such a way that the outer sections are shuffled by centrifugal force, especially if the sections are caused to advance at high speed and move in an arcuate path.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for manipulating filter sections and similar rod shaped articles obtained by severing each of a series of consecutive rods of multiple unit length whereby each rod yields a row of coaxial sections, comprising a convey-or having a peripheral conveyor face and a plurality of holder means on said peripheral conveyor face, said holder means forming a single file and each arranged to receive one section of a row and to advance the rows in a direction transversely to the axes thereof, said rows being received in selected holder means of said conveyor so that each pair of consecutive rows is separated by rr-l empty holder means wherein n is the number of sections in a row; shuffling means for displacing all but said one section of each consecutive row with reference to said conveyor, while the sections remain supported by said peripheral conveyor face, and into alignment with one of said empty holder means so that the sections of each row are staggered transversely with reference to each other on said peripheral conveyor face, said shuffling means comprising a plurality of shuffling members articulately secured to and arranged to move with said conveyor, and means for moving said shuflling members with reference to said conveyor, each of said shuflling members comprising forked portions having pron-gs constituting stop means for engaging and for moving the respective section with reference to said conveyor and into registry with an empty holder means in response to movement of the shuffling member with respect to the conveyor, at least some of said shuflling members being arranged to move the respective sections counter to the direction of movement of said conveyor; and shifting means for shifting the thus moved sections of consecutive rows into aligned empty holder means so that all sections of each consecutive row form on said conveyor a single file.

2. An apparatus for manipulating filter sections of double unit length which are obtained by severing each of a series of consecutive rods of sextuple unit length which are severed at two points while being conveyed seriatim past knife means so that each rod yields a row of three coaxial sections, comprising a rotary dnum having a peripheral conveyor face and including a median disk and two outer disks, said median disk having a plurality of peripheral pockets in said peripheral conveyor face, each of said pockets being parallel to the axis of said median disk and each being arranged to receive one section of a row and to advance the respective section at right angles to the axis thereof; transfer means for feeding rods consecutively into each third pocket of said median disk so that the end portions of such rods overlie said outer disks and are supported by said peripheral conveyor face subsequent to transfer and severing of the respective rods on said rotary drum whereby the median one of the three sections of each severed rod rests in a pocket of said median disk and the two outer sections of each severed rod overlie said outer disks and are supported by said peripheral conveyor face; shuffling means comprising stops adjacent to the peripheries of said outer disks for holding said outer sections in alignment with the respective first sections during transfer and during severing of said rods, said shuffling means being arranged to stagger said outer sections transversely of said median sections and into alignment with empty pockets of said median disk on said peripheral conveyor face; and shifting means adjacent to said outer disks and arranged to move the thus staggered outer sections axially into aligned empty pockets so that all of said sections form a single file of sections which is carried by said median disk.

3. An apparatus for manipulating filter sections of double unit length which are obtained by severing each of a series of consecutive rods of sextuple unit length at two points so that each rod yields a row of three coaxial sections, comprising a rotary drum having a peripheral conveyor face and including a median disk and two outer disks, said median disk having a plurality of peripheral pockets in said peripheral conveyor face and each of said pockets being parallel to the axis thereof and each arranged to receive one section of a row and to advance the respective section at right angles to the axis thereof; transfer means for feeding rods consecutively into each third pocket of said median disk so that the end portions of such rods overlie said outer disks and are supported by said peripheral conveyor face; shufiling means comprising two groups of shuffling members each adjacent to the periphery of one of said outer disks for holding said outer sections in alignment with the respective first sections during transfer and during severing of said rods, said shufiling members being movable with reference to said outer disks so as to stagger said outer sections transversely of said median sections and into alignment with empty pockets of said median disk on said peripheral conveyor face; and shifting means adjacent to said outer disks and arranged to move the thus staggered outer sections axially into aligned empty pockets so that all of said sections form a single file of sections which is carried by said median disk.

4. An apparatus for manipulating filter sections and similar rod shaped articles obtained by severing each of a series of consecutive rods of multiple unit length which are severed while being conveyed seriatim past knife means to yield rows of coaxial sections, comprising a conveyor having a peripheral conveyor face and a plurality of holder means on said peripheral conveyor face, said holder means forming a single file and each arranged to receive one section of a rod and to advance the section in a direction transversely to the axis thereof, said conveyor further having an annular supporting surface for supporting such sections of said rods which are not received in said holder means; transfer means for feeding rods consecutively into selected holder means so that each pair of consecutive rods on said conveyor is separated by n-l empty holder means wherein n is the number of sections of a severed rod whereby one section of each severed rod is accommodated in the respective holder means and each other section of each severed rod is adjacent to said supporting surface; shuffling means for displacing all but said one section of each consecutive row in the circumferential direction of said conveyor, along said supporting surface, and into alignment with one of said empty holder means so that the sections of each row are staggered transversely with reference to each other on said peripheral conveyor face; and shifting means for shifting the thus moved sections of consecutive rows into aligned empty holder means so that all sections of each consecutive row form on said conveyor a single file.

5. Art apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said conveyor is a drum and further comprising means for rotating said drum at constant speed.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said supporting surface comprises two annular portions and wherein said holder means are disposed between said annular portions, said knife means comprising two knives arranged to subdivide each rod into three sections one of which is received in one of said holder means and the other two of which are adjacent to said annular portions.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said shuffling means comprises shufliing members adjacent to said supporting surface.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said shuffling means comprises a group of receptacles secured to said conveyor and each adjacent to one of said selected holder means so that a second section of each row is received in one of said receptacles, the length of said receptacles as seen in the direction of movement of said conveyor being such that each thereof extends from the respective selected holder means to one of said empty holder means, said shufiling means further comprising a member adjacent to the path of said receptacles and arranged to move the second section of each row with reference to the receptacle and into registry with an empty holder means.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein each of said holder means is provided with suction duct means by suction to hold said one section of each row and wherein said receptacles are provided with suction ducts for holding said second sections in registry with the first sections of the respective rows.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein each of said receptacles further comprises a stop at each of its ends and a median portion reciprocable with reference to said stops between a retracted position and a second position in which each stop forms with said median portion a pocket to receive and to hold a second section in alignment with one of said holder means, and means for reciprocating said median portions, said member being arranged to move the second section of each row, with reference to the receptacle from the one to the other of said stops in the retracted position of the respective median portion.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein each of said receptacles comprises a fixed stop at each of its ends and two movable stops reciproca'ble with reference to said fixed stops between a retracted position and a second position in which each movable stop defines with one of said fixed stops a pocket to receive and to hold a second section in alignment with one of said holder means, and means for reciprocating said movable stops, said member being arranged to move the second section of each row with reference to the receptacle from the one to the other of said fixed stops in retracted position of said movable stops.

12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said member of said shuffling means is a rolling member rotatable about a fixed axis and arranged to roll said second sections.

13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12, further comprising an accelerating roller located ahead of said fixed rolling member and arranged to roll consecutive second sections out of aligment with the respective .first sections before such second sections are engaged by said fixed rolling member.

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein each of said receptacles comprises two spaced stop means each of which is arranged to maintain a section in registry with a different holder means.

15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein each of said receptacles extends forwardly of the respective selected holder means as seen in the direction of movement of said conveyor.

16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein each of said receptacles extends rearwardly of the respective selected holder means as seen in the direction of movement of said conveyor.

17. An apparatus as set forth in claim 16, wherein said member is a roller having a peripheral portion which engages and rolls the second sections along the respective receptacles while said receptacles advance with said conveyor past said roller.

18. An apparatus as set forth in claim 17, wherein the circumferential length of said peripheral portion is such that each second section is rolled into registry with an empty holder means, said shuffling means further comprising means for rotating said roller at such a speed that said peripheral portion rotates in a direction counter to the direction of movement of said conveyor.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,944,654 7/1960 Schubert 19832 3,010,561 11/1961 Ricke 19832 3,081,778 3/1963 Dearsley 93-1 X 3,158,251 11/1964 Skala 19832 3,165,953 1/1965 Brown 19832 X EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM B. LABORDE, EDWARD A. SROKA,

Examiners. 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR MANIPULATING FILTER SECTIONS AND SIMILAR ROD SHAPED ARTICLES OBTAINED BY SERVING EACH OF A SERIES OF CONSECUTIVE RODS OF MULTIPLE UNIT LENGTH WHEREBY EACH ROD YIELDS A ROW OF COAXIAL SECSTIONS, COMPRISING A CONVEYOR HAVING A PERIPHERAL CONVEYOR FACE AND A PLURALITY OF HOLDER MEANS ON SAID PERIPHERAL CONVEYOR FACE, SAID HOLDER MEANS FORMING A SINGLE FILE AND EACH ARRANGED TO RECEIVE ONE SECTION OF A ROW AND TO ADVANCE THE ROWS IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSELY TO THE AXES THEREOF, SAID ROWS BEING RECEIVED IN SELECTED HOLDER MEANS OF SAID CONVEYOR SO THAT EACH PAIR OF CONSECUTIVE ROWS IS SEPARATED BY N-1 EMPTY HOLDER MEANS WHEREIN N IS THE NUMBER OF SECTIONS IN A ROW; SHUFFLING MEANS FOR DISPLACING ALL BUT SAID ONE SECTION OF EACH CONSECUTIVE ROW WITH REFERENCE TO SAID CONVEYOR, WHILE THE SECTIONS REMAIN SUPPORTED BY SAID PERIPHERAL CONVEYOR FACE, AND INTO ALIGNMENT WITH ONE OF SAID EMPTY HOLDER MEANS SO THAT THE SECTIONS OF EACH ROW ARE STAGGERED TRANSVERSELY WITH REFERENCE TO EACH OTHER ON SAID PERIPHERAL CONVEYOR FACE, SAID SHUFFLING MEANS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SHUFFLING MEMBERS ARTICULATELY SECURED TO AND ARRANGED TO MOVE WITH SAID CONVEYOR, AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID SHUFFLING MEMBERS WITH REFERENCE TO SAID CONVEYOR, EACH OF SAID SHUFFLING MEMBERS COMPRISING FORKED PORTIONS HAVING PRONGS CONSITUTING STOP MEANS FOR ENGAGING AND FOR MOVING THE RESPECTIVE SECTION WITH REFERENCE TO SAID CONVEYOR AND INTO REGISTRY WITH AN EMPTY HOLDER MEANS IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF THE SHUFFLING MEMBER WITH RESPECT TO THE CONVEYOR, AT LEAST SOME OF SAID SHUFFLING MEMBERS BEING ARRANGED TO MOVE THE RESPECTIVE SECTIONS COUNTER TO THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID CONVEYOR; AND SHIFTING MEANS FOR SHIFTING THE THUS MOVED SECTIONS OF CONSECUTIVE ROWS INTO ALIGNED EMPTY HOLDER MEANS SO THAT ALL SECTIONS OF EACH CONSECUTIVE ROW FORM ON SAID CONVEYOR A SINGLE FILE. 